In light of the non-indictment verdict given to Darren Wilson after his murdering of Black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson MO, Black America is once again being forced to face ugly issues in terms of Black oppression here in the United States. However, injustice being served to Blacks isn’t limited to the judicial system alone. Since institutional/economic racism is also being practiced by the dominant society, it appears that the best and only method for Blacks to counter this mistreatment at this time is to protect themselves by emphasizing economic solidarity, aka Group Economics.

How do we practice Group Economics, you may ask? At this point, one of the easiest ways to do so (besides creating your own) is by patronizing Black Owned Businesses. For many years, prophets such as Marcus Garvey, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, Dr. Amos Wilson, and Dr. Claud Anderson have preached—and practiced—their message of Black Economic Empowerment. If you’re still not quite sure how to go about patronizing people that look like you, Melanoid Nation, then the following information is comprised of a collection of various Black Owned Businesses…just for you.

1. Soul of America

It’s apparent that Black travel is one of the essentials which ensure that Blacks are in position to connect with other Black people that they may not have necessarily had access to before. On soulofamerica.com, you have a virtual travel guide that provides information on everything from Black colleges, restaurants, cities, and cruises…thus giving you the information that you need to determine how to properly patronize Black businesses in areas all over the U.S.

2. Black City Info

Do you have the good intentions of patronizing Black Owned businesses, yet you prefer to have more numerical data about the regions in which these Black businesses exist? Are you an aspiring Black business owner yourself? Are you looking for a site that provides gives you the information that you’ll need to determine how well your Black business will thrive? Well, blackcityinfo.com is the perfect location for just that. The website contains pertinent information that you might want to consider whenever you send your hard earned dollar to Black businesses across the country. Black City Info provides interesting facts such as Black population by state and city, and also displays Black events happening in these areas.

3. Black Owned Business Network

The name of the website speaks for itself. With a site that boasts of having over 10,000 Black Owned Businesses already registered with the site, blackownedbiz.com is yet another great source of listings for Black businesses.

4. Around the Way

Perhaps the most celebrated platform for locating Black businesses across the country as of late, Around the Way functions as an app that is available on both Google and iOS devices.

5. Social Media

In today’s time, it seems as if everyone has a social media page. For those of you who don’t, it’s almost guaranteed that you know someone who does. Because much dialogue has taken place on the various social media platforms for various interests, topics, and ideas, it would also be the recommended tool when it comes to your pursuit of promoting and patronizing Black Owned Businesses. Hashtags, groups, fan/interest pages, and local networks have made doing so easier than ever.

With white supremacy looming its ugly head, it’s safe to state that Black people everywhere are vulnerable to being targeted, both individually and collectively. The best way that we protect ourselves at this point is that we practice Group Economics, and use this as the basis for building stronger and more cohesive communities. No longer should there be an excuse for not supporting our own businesses by patronizing them. Let the Black dollar circulate.

by B. Clark